One project the kids picked out was called Hot Rocks. You find some nice large smooth rocks and heat them in the oven for fifteen minutes to get really hot so when they come out you can use crayons to melt designs on them. I wish this project lasted a little bit longer.
I actually thought we could take a walk to Rock Creek Park and find our favorite rock beach (where we love to throw rocks into the creek) and find those large round smooth rocks and bring them home. Instead, they found these flat smooth rocks that have been hanging out on my back porch ever since we moved in here. I used them to keep my table cloth (in picture) down when it gets windy. It didn't matter - it still worked.
I put them in the oven for fifteen minutes on 350. I used wax paper on cookie sheets for the kids to make their mess, I mean to do their work on. Careful, it's hot! The kids tore the paper off some crayons while waiting for the rocks. Once done, they got to work.
It was rather neat to see the crayons melt so easily. The pictures I saw online had some simple designs on them, but the kids seem to just have so much fun melting all the colors onto the rock and making swirly designs. I think we'll need more rocks next time.
They all seemed marble like.
So they dried rather quickly and now adorn my back porch table.
We did this the day after Father's Day. I had another quick project in mind for the afternoon that I was definitely excited about. I had been reading a magazine and came across this recipe for a cake in a cup, ready in five minutes in the microwave. I don't know about you, but that just sounded so yummy and a really neat idea. The picture in the magazine looked so luscious! They used really elegant mugs with just a bit of the cake showing, topped with fluffy whipped cream and chocolate shavings. I had also heard of this recipe before but never had the chance to do it. So, I looked online to see what people had to say about it. I was thinking of making it for a dessert after Father's day dinner, but we were to full after dinner to think about eating dessert. Reading the comments just make you confused sometimes, because you get half the people saying it was the best recipe ever and the other half saying it was disgusting. Hmph...just had to try it for myself and I knew the kids would have fun with it.
There were two recipes. One that was circulating the Internet and the one I found in my magazine. I thought I would try the one I found online. I had Anne helping me.
It looks yummy, right? It tasted pretty good in this form. I used a wide mug because I read the heat distributes better this way. It made sense to me.
I also read that 3 minutes was all it really took to nuke in the microwave. We had it set for five and checked it after 3 minutes.
Honestly, it didn't look so good to me. I took the spoon and took a bite. Immediately, it felt spongy and dry.
It kind of felt like packing popcorn. It tasted rather the same to me, too. YUCK. It was edible, but why even make this recipe if it doesn't satisfy like it's supposed to? I'd rather wait 20 minutes for a box recipe.
My boys came running to the back porch and devoured the cake in the cup and thought it was the best thing ever. These are the kids that don't even eat their birthday cake on their birthdays! My kids don't like cake - look at them.
Gone in seconds.
So, I had to try the recipe I found in the magazine. This recipe was a lot different. It had butter, the other didn't. Butter makes everything better. I tried it, why not? So, Anne and I went for it!
Ohhhh, it looked better. Did it taste better? Let's ask Anne....
Same result - Yuck. This time (and this is my fault) too much salt. For some reason I was thinking salt enhances the sweet. I also used kosher salt. Either way, it was basically the same old thing. We concluded that cake in the cup is really not worth your time or calories.
If you are looking for a similar cute chocolate dessert in minutes - stick to the molten lava cakes in ramekins. They are definitely a fun yummy chocolate dessert.
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